Monday, June 25, 2012

There was obviously a lot of pressure on this poor troubled soul when Zito signed his seven-year, $126M deal with the Giants back in 2007. And despite his 48-66 record to date, he has come through huge this year for the Giants, catalyzed by a shutout victory in his first start of the 2012 season. In between relaxing meditation sessions by the Golden Gate bridge with only a guitar as his companion, Zito has powered his way to a 5-5 record, blemished but a tad by his last three starts and their accompanying collective 10.60 ERA.

But fear not, true believers. Even when his gargantuan contract expires in 2014 (assuming the Giants pick up his one-year option, of course!), Zito will be just fine setting up shop on a corner of the Tenderloin district, strumming some of his self-penned tunes for tips.

Zito goes up against a Dodger pitcher who has had some flashes of brilliance this year (MLB.com has a video touting his promise). However, Eovaldi not only sports a winless record of his own; he hasn't pitched in a game all season in which the Dodgers won (they are 0-5 in his five starts). The Dodgers come into AT&T Park with a scant three-game lead in the NL West, having lost consecutive series to Oakland and the Angels on the road. The Dodgers have scored only 13 runs in their last six games.

Zito and Eovaldi!A guy who (usually) gives up a bunch of runs vs. a guy who gets no run support!Irresistible force meets immovable object!Humidifier and de-humidifier in the same room!SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE!